Five more NCP backed men to file papers today
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 20
Monday being the last day to file nominations for March 13 CCP elections, five more candidates from NCP backed panel will file their papers tomorrow, February 21. So far 179 candidates have filed their nominations for the civic elections.
NCP leader Avinash Bhosle said that 10 candidates from his panel have already filed their nominations. “The panel may be backed by NCP but they are individuals who are concerned about the city and development,” he said.
The CCP elections have two major panels – ‘Panjim first’ backed by BJP and Babush Monserratte panel. NCP’s ‘Together for Panjim’ is emerging as the third force.
“I won’t say that we will win all the 15 seats. But for sure, we will pull out 5 to 6 seats with comfortable margin,” Bhosle said.
Interestingly, social activist Aires Rodrigues, contesting from ward number 30 is supported by NCP. “Aires is not an NCP members but he is part of the panel. I had approached him to contest,” Bhosale said.
The NCP leader said that they will not support the Mayor candidate of Babush Panel after the polls.
When asked whether they would support BJP’s Ashok Naik, Bhosle said, “We will have to see who gets elected and who does not. It can be someone else,” he said adding that his panel won’t mind supporting someone like Surendra Furtado or some new face like Ashley Rosario, a journalist.
The forthcoming CCP election has a blend of social activists, sitting corporators, party workers and journalist in the fray. There was a buzz that Goan Observer Editor Rajan Narayan will be contesting from Dona Paula. But he gave it a second thought at the last minute.
Sources stated that like-minded citizens like Oscar Rebello, Patricia Pinto and others have also decided to support few of the candidates. “There was a meeting at a hotel in Panjim little before announcement of the election dates and it was decided that people who would work for the good of city should be supported irrespective of the party affiliation,” a source stated.
The meeting held over a dinner also had BJP Mayor Candidate Ashok Naik attending it. The participants unanimously decided to defeat Babush’s might.
Meanwhile, the scrutiny of nominations will be done on Tuesday (February 22), and Wednesday (February 23) from 11 am onwards.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature would be February 25, 2011 from 10 am to 3 pm. The List of Contesting Candidates with symbols allotted to them will be published on Saturday (February 26). Poll will be taken by EVM’s on Sunday March 13, 2011 from 8 am to 5 pm.
Counting of votes will be done on Sunday (March 13) from 8 pm onwards at Government Pharmacy College Panjim.
